Worlds 2021 was a mixed bag for the LEC and LCS. Combined, the west sent two teams out of groups, though both MAD Lions and Cloud9 were immediately swept in Quarter-Finals. While the North American squads 100 Thieves and Team Liquid finished with a respectable 3-3, LEC and LCS teams floundered out of Worlds 2021.
This has sparked an age old conversation regarding ‘the gap.’ As the Worlds Semi-Finals is only comprised of LCK and LPL teams (the first time since 2017), the skill difference between east and west seems wider than ever. What could constitute for this ‘re-widening’ of the gap? Especially as the west, mostly through the LEC and G2 specifically, seemed to be making progress.
Are Western teams missing out on scrims?
Throughout Worlds, western teams spoke on the difficulties they faced when trying to schedule scrim blocks with eastern teams. Members from Rogue, Team Liquid, 100 Thieves, and more all cited LCK and LPL teams as consistently denying their requests.
Rogue landed themselves in one of the most difficult groups at Worlds, facing down FunPlus Phoenix and Damwon Kia alongside Cloud9. Adrian “Trymbi” Trybus commented on the subject, stating that Rogue never got the opportunity to scrim FPX, Damwon, or any other eastern team for that matter. While it is common to avoid your group mates in scrims as not to reveal strategies, the failure to secure any LCK or LPL teams outside of their group is telling.
Corroboration with other western teams showed that this issue was prevalent across western teams. As almost every other team reports the same issue, the west has seemingly come across a new problem plaguing their international performances.
How this will hurt the LEC and LCS
If all LCK, LPL, and potentially even PCS teams refuse to scrim against western teams, this eliminates virtually half of all potential scrim partners. This will ultimately lead the LCS and LEC representatives to develop a very insular playstyle, essentially an echo chamber reinforced by one another.
The eastern regions bring a great deal of diversity to both playstyles in-game and drafts. Their success on the rift can easily be seen by their dominance at both MSI and Worlds, and their refusal to scrim western teams could massively hinder the regions.
If this trend continues, the LEC and LCS will likely continue to find poor results and only remain each others scrim partners. This problem only seems to reinforce the skill hierarchy with the LCK and LPL interchangeably at the top, the LEC, and then the LCS.
What would solve this problem?
In the past, western teams have partnered with LPL/LCK teams to bootcamp in the offseason. In 2019, Team Vitality went to China to spend a week with Royal Never Give Up to prepare for the season. Though a specific example, building these types of relationships with eastern teams could potentially secure themselves scrim partners in the future.
LCS and LEC teams could also attempt to provide something new and worth practicing against, whether that be unique picks or playstyles. This rides the line between trolling and innovating, however the make themselves more attractive scrim partners, this may be one of the only viable options.
Also read:
- Will Faker reclaim his crown? T1 roll over Hanwha Life in Worlds 2021 Quarter finals
- EDG win the LPL grudge match in Worlds 2021 Quarter-Finals
- Only 6 Pick’ems remain perfect at Worlds 2021
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